It's July, and we are smack dab in the middle of the hot summer months in Media, PA. To us, summer means traveling to beaches, pools, lakes, and parks. We have the ultimate summer accessory in store- Turkish bath towels, aka peshtemal!

As we gear up for our move to 15 E. State Street next month, we're introducing a semi-regular blog series featuring mid-century designers and their iconic creations. All objects have stories and we hope you enjoy learning about their history as much as we do!

Kicking off the series is American design team Ray and Charles Eames. In 1940, Ray-Bernice Alexandra Kaiser and Charles Eames met while working together at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. They married the following year. For the next 50 years, the couple collaborated on projects in the fields of architecture, furniture design, film, and fine arts.

Ray and Charles Eames

The Eameses were equal partners throughout their marriage and professional relationship. Though Charles was often solely credited on his projects, it's become evident that Ray was heavily involved in all of Charles's work. Ray and Charles also collaborated with other designers of the time, including Finnish-American Eero Saarinen, with whom they had a close friendship.

The Eames's home in Pacific Palisades, CA

Many of the Eames's designs have become iconic symbols of the 1950s and 60s. Through their designs, the couple pioneered new technologies including molded plywood, fiberglass, plastic resin, and wire mesh.

Eames DKW-1 chair manufactured by Herman Miller, 1952-1954. Due to their delicate wooden leg joints, it is rare to find these chairs in tact. We currently have two of these in stock!

The iconic Eames lounger and ottoman (ca. 1956) are still sought-after items.

Eames molded plastic side chair with wooden dowel legs, 1950.

We love the simplicity and comfort of the Eames design. Keep an eye out for great Eames products here at Reconsidered Home!

It turns out that not only is Danish paper cord attractive, but it is also sustainable and durable. Chair maker Caleb James explains that Danish paper cord "gained popularity starting back after World War II in Denmark and other European countries. It struck the right balance of ease of production and availability combined with its durability. Because of shortages of supplies after the war the same paper product was used to make tires even. For seating it is estimated to last up to 60 years with normal use."

During the mid-20th century renowned designers like Hans Wegner and Neils Møller incorporated cord into their mixed-material pieces. The cords were weaved into intricate patterns making for some distinctive furniture.

Close-up of cord weave pattern.

Of course we love the look for its texture and beauty as well as its sustainability. What do you think? Would you like to incorporate this modern look into your space?

Wegman-style rope lounge chair with ottoman. This piece is well-loved but has miles of life left. Who wouldn't want to recline and relax in this stylish seat?

Happy Holidays everyone! We are now in the throws of the season and in the midst of the holiday gridlock at the malls. How about you take a break and check out our holiday offerings. We try to post as much as we can in our online shop, but there is plenty more to explore here on the weekends.

Here are a few ideas of what we have in the store.

Russell Wright pottery varying from $18-$75

Handmade 100% Beeswax candlesticks made by local artisan Jodi Lenz. $10 for a pair!

Black white and grey all over....decor by @reconsideredhom ....photos by @studiogracious

Maybe it's me, but I see less and less color in home decor these days. Neutral colors are winning out and despite being a mid century modern enthusiast, I'm avoiding color in my own home. Is this just a phase? Am I being too dramatic? Probably.

The store is filled with colorful vessels and glassware, but I'm seeing a trend towards more natural wood and light colored fabrics.

Photo courtesy of @studiogracious

I'm reminded now in this season [Fall] with the quickly changing landscape that we are surrounded by muted colors and it's often the most beautiful of all seasons.

My black/white and grey color palette

Why resist? There is beauty in the simplicity and I kinda like keeping it simple in a life of chaos...at least until I get some new inspiration.

Contrasting materials yet still very neutral. Photo courtesy of @studiogracious

We have been building up quite the collection of colorful ashtrays lately and we were brainstorming different ideas of how to use them. Food seemed creepy since they are afterall...ashtrays. Maybe shelled walnuts. But then this morning I had a novel idea while cleaning up my hairpins, that I wish I had a cute little dish to drop them in. Ah ha! Ashtrays can hold hairpins and all sorts of jeweled accessories. Here are a few ideas...sorry the jewelry is not for sale. Enjoy!

Today I am posting about the overabundance of round dining tables we have in the shop. This is perfect timing for the large or small get-togethers that happen in the fall and into the holidays. Whether you are in need of a new dining table with chairs or without, we have something for you. Click on the pictures to go to each tables page for more pictures and prices.

First up is this lovely teak table with Svegard dining chairs that are sold seperately. There is no leaf for this table, but would look great for a studio space or an eat in kitchen.

Art deco, caned back, and finials for a more elegant look. This table comes with two leaves and includes the chairs in the price. This one is also ON SALE!

Danish teak dining table with matching chairs. This one also has a leaf to expand.

This Lane column dining table is unique in that it can also be used as two side tables. The wood inlay detail on the tabletop is a great example of Lane furniture.

Hello all! With summer winding down and autumn upon us, I thought I would share some of the small decor collection we have in the shop right now. These are also posted on the shop website. We have various assortments of ceramics and glass, some collector's items that come in many shapes and sizes. Enjoy the weekend! -xo Martha

For the next couple of weeks we will be selling our Art and Decor books at a discounted rate of 50% off the original prices. Most of these will be going for under $10 so get them while they're hot! I wanted to highlight two of the museum collection books that will be an inspirational addition to anyone's library or coffee table.

African Textiles and Decorative Arts and Painted Delight are both amazing art history books full of color pictures and historical backgrounds on different cultures and time periods in Africa and India.

Have you ever been in search of that perfect chair to fit in the corner next to your window, and it has to match everything else that you already have? It is harder then you realize when you are looking for something specific especially when it comes to a mid-century piece that is timeless in design, but unfortunately the fabric leaves something to be desired. Either it has been chewed up by a dog or left to rot in a basement, or it is in pristine condition with the most offensive hot orange upholstery you could imagine. We have already been accustomed to reupholstering when needed here at the shop, bringing sofas and lounge chairs back to their former glory. From time to time, we see a chair that needs love, but when given the opportunity, would love to work with the customer on fabric consultations. We our outsourcing the reupholstery so that you don’t have to find one elsewhere. Based on the project, this can be very reasonable for the unique piece that you always wanted here at Reconsidered.

(Sorry for the color correction issues. It was really bad lighting where I took the picture.)

I had a blast with our first project to find new fabric for this vintage Homecrest chair. The frame was awesome and unusual with a tip of the hat towards a Herman Miller style, but the fabric was a white linen with stains and tears. Our customer fell in love with it and was excited to work with me to find the perfect fabric for her new (old) chair.

I must say this chair cleaned up real nicely and I had an enjoyable experience with the customer. Projects like this are so fun and sparks innovation in something from the past. Reconsidering an old chair is worth it when you give it a second chance. Xo, Martha

Welcome! We have finally launched a blog for our brick and mortar shop Reconsidered Home. We are a vintage furniture store located in Media, Pa and it has been a true delight being a part of our tiny town and discovering new friends and a few characters along the way.

It all started with an interest (read: obsession) in mid century homes; window walls, vaulted ceilings, retro light fixtures, furniture, art, decor, and the list goes on. The rest is history, and here we are, peddling our wares and making an established fixture here in Media for all things mid-century design. We have enjoyed working with our local customers as well as being a liaison for those who don’t live so close by. Our little shop has been a revolving door of treasures and interesting characters to say the least and the blog is our platform to share our daily happenings and adventures here at Reconsidered. So please check back often and enjoy the ride with us! xo, Natalie and Martha

A Little About Us —

Established in 2011, we opened Reconsidered Home as a way to share our collection of vintage modern and salvaged fixtures to our local community of Media.